Archive: March 2014
Use strategic planning to prepare for future
March 28, 2014Guest Commentary
What is strategic planning and why do I need it? Strategic planning is an exercise by which you assess current trends and based upon those trends paint a picture of what you believe will be the work environment your company will likely face in the future. You must then take a proactive approach and determine how you will prepare for both positive and negative changes that will emerge.Strategy is a Greek military term that means joining the general with his army to achieve goals. The leader must understand...
Stakeholders warn state lawmakers on bidding supplies
March 28, 2014Leah Hoenen
WASHINGTON - A recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report calls on CMS to urge states to cut costs on incontinence supplies, and the agency agreed. Industry stakeholders warn that could lead to an expansion of competitive bidding.
Released in January, the report found Medicaid fee-for-service programs spent $266 million on disposable incontinence supplies in 2012, but they could have saved $62 million, or 23%, by using median competitive bidding prices, a move that five states have already...
Roscoe Medical speeds into retail
March 28, 2014Liz Beaulieu, Editor
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Roscoe Medical went from a scattered handful of retail products to a full line with its recent acquisition of Los Angeles-based Revolution Mobility.“We've talked about emphasizing retail for a while and we saw this as a quick way of speeding up that process,” said Paul Guth, president and CEO of Roscoe Medical. “We're intent on delivering to our customers additional products that they can sell to help their businesses.”Revolution Mobility sells bath safety,...
Get fit at home with Just Home Medical
March 28, 2014Leah Hoenen
FULTON, Md. - Forget that gym membership—plenty of rehab and fitness exercises can be done at home with equipment from Just Home Medical's new exercise and fitness division. The online provider offers dumbbells, kettlebells, pedal exercisers, pulley systems, athletic wear and resistance bands, which are proving particularly popular.“We figured these products are great for rehab purposes and with the New Year, a lot of people make New Year's resolutions to get fit and lose weight,”...
in good repair: Bell Apothecary branches out
March 28, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
EASTON, Pa. - When a local DME repair shop owner sold his business to another company located far away, provider Ron Frantz saw a great opportunity.“People were calling and complaining that they weren't getting their equipment back fast enough,” said Frantz, medical director of the home healthcare department for Bell Apothecary. “I approached him and we opened up a repair shop right in our facility and now he works for me.”The shop does repairs on equipment such as wheelchairs,...
AAH surveys providers on patient awareness
March 28, 2014HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is conducting a short survey on the level of awareness among patients on Medicare issues and reform. The association will use the results of the survey as a benchmark to track the progress of its new patient awareness campaign, “Save My Medical Supplies.” Campaign resources and specifics will be shared in the upcoming weeks, AAHomecare says.
Whoa, Nellie!
March 28, 2014Guest Commentary
If you remember The Roy Rogers Show, you might remember Roy's sidekick, Pat, driving the old Jeep nicknamed Nellie Belle. On occasion, Nellie Belle would get out of control and Pat would yell, “Whoa Nellie Belle.”
Today, we have a different vehicle out of control: Medicare. Someone needs to holler “Whoa Nellie!” and put a stop to this runaway, out-of-control renegade before someone gets hurt.
HME providers, hospitals, physicians, and home health and...
Wheelinit keeps it simple
March 28, 2014Leah Hoenen
FORT WORTH, Texas - Lessons learned had everything to do with the stripped-down, rugged and reliable van that the recently-launched Wheelinit sells to wheelchair users, says Managing Member Micah Mitchell. Here's what he and Business Development Director Bo Dennett had to say about creating the Wheelinit van and how it fits into the mobility van market.
HME News: Wheelinit's parent company rented wheelchair accessible vans for 15 years. How did that experience lead you to build the vans...
Billing technology: Get staff plugged in
March 28, 2014Jennifer Leon
A. Contrary to popular belief, your patients will use online bill pay if you offer it. The key is getting your patients and your staff to believe in the same methodology when it comes to paying bills online. Surprisingly, baby boomers spend more time online than any other age group, according to eMarketer, a research analyst company. The 65-plus demographic has changed the way they pay—now your company needs to adapt that change and offer the right solution. Using online bill pay...
Medicare permits walker upgrades
March 28, 2014Letter to the Editor
Persistence paid off in this case. Below is the final determination from Medicare since the initial HME News article (“Unbundling trips up providers,” December 2013).The DME Medical Directors have decided that hand brakes are different from glide-type brakes and can be billed at initial issue for some walkers (i.e., E0143 is the most common HCPCS code billed) per the related Policy Article for Walkers. Use A9270 when billing hand brakes and other enhancement...